NOT exactly Prosecco football but good enough for Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini to come out on top in this FA Cup Italian job.

And Mancini took no risks against compatriot Gianfranco Zola, selecting a strong side with the intention of blowing the Championship outfit away without too much fuss.

After all, there had been enough embarrassing headlines in the past few days around these parts, mostly concerning another high-profile Italian.

While Mario Balotelli was anchored to the substitutes’ bench for most of this third-round tie before entering to boos from many City supporters, it was left to Carlos Tevez, with the first goal, to calm any apprehension over a possible upset whipped up by Watford’s buoyant 6,000 followers.

The Argentinian’s workrate was at full pelt, never giving Watford’s

three-man defence any respite.

But it was the venom in his right boot which silenced the Hornets hordes behind Jonathan Bond’s goal in the 24th minute. After being presented with a free-kick opportunity 20 yards out following a rash challenge by John Eustace, Tevez hammered in an unstoppable effort with pace and precision as the wall disintegrated.

Definitely a case of Tevez finding the Watford gap.

Watford were stamped with the Zola moniker – comfortable in possession, sharp and inventive on the break.

But it was their finishing which let them down, missing out on two clear one-on-one situations against City’s reserve keeper, Costel Pantilimon.

The first came within seconds of Tevez’s opener as City were caught in a celebratory trance. Fernado Forestieri was given an unobstructed path to goal but Pantilimon flung himself to his left to block.

At 6ft 8in, the Romanian is English football’s tallest player. Forestieri can confirm it’s like trying to outmanoeuvre a skyscraper. Watford kept their nerve even after going 2-0 down just before the break, a move which confirmed James Milner’s influence on the game.

Often, it seems, on the periphery of the main action at City, the England player with a prodigious workrate never fails to deliver when called upon.

Accepting a David Silva pass inside the box, he turned his marker before chipping a delightful cross which was begging Gareth Barry to head clinically past Bond.

A lifeline was once again dangled – one which Watford refused. This time it was Troy Deeney who was offered a route to glory. A poor first touch saw the ball run towards a grateful Pantilimon, who took a kick from Deeney’s frustrated follow-through for his pains – something which cost the Watford player a yellow card.

He has great technique, great ability and wants to hurt the opposition

Manchester City assistant David Platt

All eyes were on the bench – when would City’s enfant terrible emerge? Answer: with 19 minutes to go Balotelli waddled to the side of the pitch as if he was about to face a firing squad.

While Edin Dzeko departed to loud cheers, Balotelli entered to a chorus of boos and chants of ‘Fight, fight’, an obvious reference to his latest training ground bust-up.

To his credit, Balotelli was up for another fight – to try to convince the growing army of doubters on and off the pitch that he still has a future here.

To jeers from sections of the crowd, he cut inside towards the edge of the box to test Bond with a low strike. And he wasn’t afraid to take command at a free-kick situation, the keeper again coming out on top.

But when Balotelli again took aim in added time, Bond could only push the ball out to 17-year-old substitute Marcos Lopes, who gleefully snapped up his first goal for the club barely four minutes after coming on.

City have high expectations of the Brazilian-born player signed from Benfica.

Assistant boss David Platt said: “He has a big smile on his face. He has great technique, great ability and wants to hurt the opposition. He has a good future ahead of him.

“But he will back in for training tomorrow with the under-21s, ready to play a game on Monday night. He won’t let this go to his head."